Tim Kasten, Vice Chair of UN-Water, Talks to UN Radio on World Water Day 2011

22.03.2011 - World Water Day is being observed around the world Tuesday to focus attention on the importance of the most basic necessity for life. In Africa, as more people move from rural areas to live in cities, the demand for basic services such as water grows. For millions of people living in Africa water is in dangerously short supply, according to Tim Kasten from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

“We had 88 million in 1990 without access to water and sanitation and now we have 175 million people without access to sanitation, and the drinking water is a similar situation. As we’re growing in city, we’re reducing our capacity to be able to provide new services.”

Right now 400 million people live in African cities. By 2050, that number is expected to spike to 1.2 billion people.